Don’t worry, despite Vicky’s attempts to thwart me I HAVE, in fact, been to Spain. I am merely plugging soundbites from Three Dog Night songs that have been regurgitated from my adolescence. Coincidently though I do like the music, in fact while in Spain Melissa and I were wandering around this record shop and came across a really cool band from Madrid. They’re called First Aid Kit, if you at all like the ambient jangley bits in Mum or Air albums then and I recommend you buy the album Plaits immediately. Or my recent addiction to an album called Lagrimas Negras (Black Tears) that was recorded in Madrid in 2004 by Bebo Valdés y Diego El Cigala. But this post isn’t about me mentioning random bands, it’s about Spain, so I digress,,.

On May 8th Sam, Marcus, and I flew from Dublin to Spain to visit Debbie (whom I had briefly met in Dublin but totally added to my list of cool friends). Melissa would fly out and meet up with all of us as well the next day. Most of our time was spent in Madrid but we did find time to do a day trip to Toledo as well.

Out of all the trips I’ve taken this year this one ended up being one of my favorites. The reasons behind this are a mixture of the people I went with, the people I met, and the many many laughs we had together. Well, that and the fact that simply I love Spain.

I always find it funny to reflect upon your initial thoughts of a country BEFORE you’ve visited it. Just the preconceived notions you’ve developed over the years. Now, I’m happy to say that I wasn’t ignorant enough to expect taco trucks, burritos, or mariachi bands on the corner or anything like that. But I was still surprised how far from Mexican or South American culture Spain is. The food especially. Maybe because our American culture just thinks that Spanish or Mexican food are interchangeable titles for a place that has chips and salsa waiting on the table for you as you decide what to order. But Spain, Spain has no salsa, they don’t even like spicy food. It’s more simple things like a roll with jamón and nothing else for lunch (Mmmm… how I love the Meuso de Jamon’s 2 euro picnic deal), or delicious tortilla de patatas (though Melissa makes the best), or paella. But to be fair to you Americans, the English are just as ignorant in reverse. When I gripe about missing Mexican food they say: “Look, there is a tapa’s bar!” So I guess it all balances out.

Ultimately though Spain was just this fantastic time. I felt so artistically stimulated and inspired there (The Prado and it’s current Goya exposition being the biggest standouts), made friends easily and felt like the “giddy” (slang for tourist) trio of Sam, Marcus, and I, were a big hit despite our appalling attempts at speaking Spanish, and just felt very at ease and comfortable in a place where I couldn’t even speak the language.

Maybe it’s because I had Melissa and Debbie to translate but somehow I really feel like not only could I live there, but that I’d do well there. In fact I’m considering it in the running of where to spend August. We’ll see…